EFFECT OF VIBRATIONS ON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Abstract

In overly populated cities people living in suburban areas have to endure long journeys in order to reach their job sites. Whether they go by train, bus or by car they are inevitably exposed to vibrations, of considerable magnitude, in vertical (z) and lateral (x,y) directions. The immediate effect of vibration exposure is the fatigue of ones' muscles. This is verified by the blood and saliva analysis of the volunteers travelling in a train. Their lactic acid levels were increased by 34% at the end of a 5 hr journey. The most affected people by vibration were, without doubt, the train operators and bus drivers. 42% of the suburban train operators had pain complaints at their waists. a(z(floor)) in the machinist cabin of a suburban train was measured to be, on the average, 0.23 m/s2. Max peak was 1.34 m/s2. The bus and car drivers were exposed to lower vibrations but they were exposed to multiple shocks originating from the non-standardized humps placed on the roads. Peak a(z(seat)) = 0.054 m/s2 (f = 5.25 Hz) (v(car) = 30 km/hr) on an asphalt road increased considerably while crossing over a hump. This value was 1.27 m/s2 (f = 4.5 Hz) in case of bus drivers (v(bus) = 20 km/hr). Studies have been done to provide practical measures for the reduction of the vibrations transmitted to the drivers. The waist belts filled with fluids of different viscosities prepared for this purpose seemed to be promising. The cushions filled with glycerin and gel were observed to be the best alternatives.